Earlier this year ICC Judge Baister handed down judgment in the case of UKCloud Ltd, building on the decision in Avanti[1] by providing further analysis around the distinction between fixed and floating charges – following a dearth of caselaw on the point since Spectrum.[2] This blog pulls together some of the key messages and practical … Continue Reading
It is often common practice for small businesses to structure payments to a director (who is also a shareholder) through a combination of dividend payments and salary, in order to minimize PAYE liabilities and reduce tax. Consequently, rather than be paid a salary, a director is “remunerated” by dividend payments. This works when the company … Continue Reading
Summary The High Court has issued a judgment dismissing the entirety of the Claimants’ claim in a long-running dispute commenced by a pair of property developers against a Judicial Factor to the estate of a Scottish businessman (the “Deceased”). Squire Patton Boggs represented the successful Defendant, who was awarded the majority of his costs on the … Continue Reading
HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) has issued a consultation entitled “Tax Abuse and Insolvency: A Discussion Document” on how it proposes to confront those who misuse insolvency law as a means of avoiding or evading their tax liabilities. HMRC often describes itself as an “involuntary creditor” because it does not choose to trade with debtors. … Continue Reading
A recent ruling of the German Federal Civil Court (Bundesgerichtshof (“BGH”)) is a reminder of the risks which shareholders of a German company can face in an insolvency of their German subsidiary. Under the German Insolvency Code (“InsO”), claims for repayment of a loan granted by a shareholder who holds more than 10% of the … Continue Reading
A recent decision of the High Court (Goel and another v Grant and another [2017] EWHC 2688 (Ch)) has provided a useful reminder that care must be taken when administrators enter into pre-contract negotiations and the risk of inadvertently entering into a binding contract before terms are finalised. It also deals with the risks of disposing … Continue Reading
EBTs – The Good Employee Benefit Trusts (“EBTs”) have become prevalent in recent years. They were originally devised as a form of discretionary trust to benefit employees and in most cases continue to be operated as a legitimate part of employee incentive plans, such as to house shares for distribution to employees. EBTs – The … Continue Reading
The recent case of Farnborough Airport Properties Company and another v HMRC is noteworthy for the light it shines on the dimly lit and often difficult interaction between tax law and insolvency. The issues The two companies operating Farnborough Airport (the host of ‘the largest industry event on the aerospace calendar’) were members of the … Continue Reading
Investors in Australia, represented by Squire Patton Boggs in Sydney, have made history again with another big win over Standard & Poor’s (S&P). They were granted leave to pursue a “tort of deceit” claim, alleging that S&P intentionally altered its ratings methodology to achieve higher ratings in order to serve its business objectives. This is the … Continue Reading
The recent Court of Appeal case of Stevensdrake Limited v Stephen Hunt [2017] EWCA Civ 1173 provides guidance on whether the office holder is liable to meet the legal costs in CFA cases where there are insufficient recoveries in the estate to meet those costs. Central to costs assessments in litigation proceedings is what is … Continue Reading
The recent case of Crumper v Candey Ltd [2017] EWCH 1511 (Ch) delivered an updated analysis of the operation of section 245 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (“s245”). Although the insolvency proceedings (and much of the litigation before and after the insolvency commenced) originated in the British Virgin Islands, they were recognised in England and … Continue Reading
The insolvency of companies in Russia is often caused by the negligent or illegal actions of their shareholders and/or management. The Russian Federal Law on Insolvency has been amended to introduce stricter rules on “controlling persons,” which increases their liability for the damage caused to creditors by their actions.… Continue Reading
A recent decision in the High Court provided guidance with respect to the apparent conflict between freezing orders that have been granted over assets that are subject to an existing security. Generally speaking, a freezing order should only catch the unsecured elements of assets. The question facing the court in Taylor v Van Dutch Marine … Continue Reading
When reviewing a security for costs application under CPR 25.12, the courts are faced with the challenge of striking a balance between an impecunious claimant’s access to justice and the possibility of a successful defendant being unable to recover their costs. This is because the general rule in relation to costs under CPR 44.2 is … Continue Reading
As of 25 April 2017, for courts within the Chancery division of the High Court in London, the filing of all applications, forms and documents must be performed electronically. This includes the Bankruptcy and Companies Courts within Greater London. It does not apply to the High Courts outside London. Where once a lawyer might expect … Continue Reading
On 5 April 2017, an amendment to the German Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung – “InsO”) has come into force which provides for various changes to the avoidance rules and clawback laws in German insolvency proceedings. The major change affects the right of an insolvency administrator to challenge transactions for willful disadvantage (§ 133 InsO).… Continue Reading
Spain’s Civil Code provides that when the sale proceeds of a mortgaged property do not cover all the debt contracted with the bank, the debt continues to subsist and the bank may go against any other asset belonging to the customer, with the exception of properties that are untouchable, for the shortfall. However, a Court in Barcelona has … Continue Reading
Dickinson v NAL (Realisations) Staffordshire Ltd is a useful case on how directors’ duties are looked at following a formal insolvency and ways in which an office holder can challenge transactions if there is evidence of wrongdoing or a concerted strategy to frustrate creditors’ recourse to a Company’s asset base which would ordinarily be available … Continue Reading
Following the liquidation of Bradford Bulls earlier this month, the Rugby Football League have agreed a deal for a new rugby league team based in Bradford to commence life in the Kingstone Press Championship for the start of the 2017 season on 5th February 2017. After a brief bidding process for the rights to incorporate … Continue Reading
It is not always easy to prioritize between the various goals pursued in every insolvency legislation, namely; the continuation of the company, preservation of the jobs, the general economic/public interest and the payment of dividends to creditors. There is no clear hierarchy in French law amongst these major targets and French case law appears fairly pragmatic. … Continue Reading
The recent case of Re Newtons Coaches [2016] EWHC 3068 considered whether a partnership falls within the remit of s.216 Insolvency Act 1986 (“IA 86”). The case looked at what s.216 is designed to prevent and the nature of partnerships in the context of both the Insolvent Partnerships Order 1994 (“IPO 94”) and the IA … Continue Reading
The recent successful appeal in Brooks and another (Joint Liquidators of Robin Hood Centre plc in liquidation) v Armstrong and another [2016] EWHC 2893 (Ch), [2016] All ER (D) 117 (Nov) has clarified and highlighted the complexities of bringing a wrongful trading claim and the importance of correctly quantifying losses for which directors can be made … Continue Reading
In an address last week to the Insolvency Lawyers Association, Sir Geoffrey Vos, the new Chancellor of the High Court, looked at the future for Insolvency and Business Litigation in London, especially after Brexit. Whilst acknowledging that Brexit presents a challenge, he said it is one which should not defeat the English Courts. The main issue … Continue Reading
The case of Bailey v Angove’s Pty Ltd heard in the UK Supreme Court has confirmed the general rule that an irrevocable agency will only be created in exceptional circumstances: there must be a specific agreement that the agent’s authority is irrevocable and the authority must be given with the intention of securing an interest of … Continue Reading
